Faculty honours Zubair, W/Africa’s first Professor of Islamic Law

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has enjoined staff and students of the University to emulate the fascinating lifestyle of a retired Professor of Islamic Law at the University, Abdulqadir Zubair, by always doing things in examplary manners.

Prof. Egbewole stated this last Monday (January 29, 2024) while speaking at the public presentation of a book, written in honour of the two-term Dean of the institution’s Faculty of  Law, Prof.  Zubair. 

The Vice Chancellor described Prof. Zubair as a fine breed of academic and one of the most outstanding scholars who served at the University’s Faculty of Law, saying that “he was the best of us and among the best that can be found anywhere”.  

Prof. Egbewole noted that Prof. Zubair, who is generally acknowledged as the first Professor of Islamic Law in the West African subregion, is a man of his words and someone who did his best for all those who  came across him.

While congratulating the retired academic giant on his multidimensional accomplishments, the renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who described the event as “the celebration of goodness”, thanked Prof. Zubair for all his services to the University of Ilorin, particularly for the mentorship he provided for nearly all the academic staff of the Faculty.

Prof. Egbewole encouraged staff of the University to always act according to their conscience, saying that to be misunderstood is not a weakness and that once the conviction is strong those who misunderstood righteousness will eventually come back to celebrate the hitherto misconstrued position.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, OFR, said that the event represented a significant landmark in the history of the Faculty of Law,  University of Ilorin.

Prof. AbdulRaheem, who is also the Talba of Ilorin and a former Vice Chancellor of the University, asserted that Prof. Zubair is one of the distinguished founding fathers of the institution’s Law Faculty.

He added that Prof. Zubair was one of those his administration attracted to the University and who strove hard to ensure that the Faculty became what it is today.

The former Vice Chancellor who headed the University between 1997 and 2002, urged other staff members and students of the University to emulate all the unique  qualities of Prof. Zubair for them to also be worthy of being celebrated.

In her address, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Prof. Nimah Modupe AbdulRaheem, paid glowing tributes to Prof. Zubair.

Prof. AbdulRaheem described the honouree as a consummate teacher, superlative mentor and an unmatched internationally renowned scholar, who invested all his life in the teaching of  Law.

The Dean, who thanked the Vice Chancellor for propelling the work, said that the Faculty decided to go into the publication of the book to advance knowledge in emulation of what the honouree did throughout his career of many decades that produced many outstanding scholars and practitioners of  Law.

Reviewing the book, a former Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Abdulqadir Ibrahiim Abikan, said that the retired Professor has succeeded in immortalising himself through the production of human and intellectual resources.

He added that there is no Faculty of Law in Nigeria where Islamic Law is taught that Prof. Zubair does not have at least a student or mentee, adding that 65% of academic staff of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, are products of the retired academic giant as he encouraged all to take advantage of the book to broaden their knowledge of Islamic Law and other relevant matters.

Responding, the honouree, Prof. Zubair, expressed his gratitude to the Vice Chancellor as well as management and staff of the Faculty of Law for the honour done to him.